A good beginning, lasting forever

“In the beginning” we are all children of God, created in his image and likeness, and perhaps that’s a good place to start teaching our children divine truth. Parents best determine the timeline of learning, as they have the privileged right and difficult responsibility to be the best teachers and spiritual leaders to their children.

The privileged right stems from being pro- and co-creators of life — and thanking God. The difficult responsibility stems in part from living in a dynamic, highly secularized culture.

“Male and female he created them” — and as my Catholic Study Bible footnotes tell me, “God provided the plants with seeds and commanded the animals to be fertile and multiply, so God gives sexuality to human beings as their means to continue in existence” (cf. Gn 1:27). A divine truth is here in the way God shares his holiness with us — naturally and supernaturally. As baptized Christians, married couples can help make the world God created a holier place by being unitive, procreative and teachers of divine truth to their children. That’s how couples produce families so vital to society. And why we pray fervently for our children — small and big.

Come September, as our youth begin a new school year, the Catholic Watchmen monthly prayer intentions are devoted to the young: that young people learn, believe, practice and live divine truth from experiences in their homes, parishes, schools and social networks. That in the spirit of the Church’s Eucharistic Revival, divine truth enkindles in our youth a living relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ —through his word and in the holy Eucharist.

Divine truth is what helps dispense all truth — natural and transcending supernatural truths — throughout the world in which our youth will develop, grow and mold their lives. Being a parent myself, I often preach (in ferverino, or “pep talk” style) to parents during the rite of holy baptism, emphasizing, “they grow up fast, and what you say and what you demonstrate without saying anything is what they will likely remember.” As the newly baptized grow in wisdom and strength, may God be with the parents to help explain, sort out, verify and discuss the truths of life with their young, because it is no easy task with the competition, noise and nosiness of information technology and social media networks.

As Watchmen would quip, “being a present father” is a must in the midst of validating, teaching and speaking to what’s true, what’s partially true or what’s plain nonsense. Furthermore, being present to our youth for whom we’re responsible connects well with a Catholic Watchmen daily practice discipline: “Strive to be a spiritual father like St. Joseph.” The Blessed Mother’s spouse may not have dealt with topics regarding gender ideology, the definition of marriage or critical race theories, but he certainly was under attack by the enemy’s quest to annihilate the dignity of life. This “righteous man” (Mt 1:19) knew truth and is the epitome of spiritual fatherhood — the protector, provider and leader of the Holy Family — who provided security for “the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6).

Spiritual leadership engages in truth and does not duck or deprive kids (or anyone for that matter) of it. Jesus speaks to us, teaches us and sanctifies us in both the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist. The Lord tells us in sacred Scripture “not to despise one of these little ones” because children’s “angels in heaven always look upon the face of (his) heavenly Father” (cf. Mt 18:10-11). Speak truth to these little ones — they were born to know. Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire reflection said it well recently regarding kids and the truth: “They are what they are; they act in accordance with their deepest nature. ‘Kids say the darndest things’ because they don’t know how to hide the truth of their reactions.”

Divine truth is a good beginning to help the young understand the salient truths that God meant them to learn, embrace and live. Encountering Jesus in sacred Scripture (another daily Catholic Watchmen discipline) can engrave truth in their hearts — truth that is forever lasting: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciple, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31-32).

Deacon Bird ministers to St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville, and assists with the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen movement.